Le Christ et Mammon 1936

Georges Rouault created "Le Christ et Mammon" using ink and paper, materials lending themselves to the expressive and spontaneous style on display. The stark contrast and heavy lines are achieved through the direct application of ink, highlighting the raw, almost brutal quality of the scene. Rouault’s choice of such a simple medium underscores the directness of his message, a critique of the societal values contrasting spiritual purity with material wealth. The thick, dark lines trap and define areas of light, lending the composition its graphic power. The artist was deeply engaged with social issues, and the immediacy of the ink medium allowed him to convey these with urgency. It is a printmaking technique, that lends itself to the mass reproduction of images, and circulation of ideas. By emphasizing these qualities, Rouault challenges the traditional hierarchy of art, elevating the social commentary through his engagement with both the spiritual and the material.